Belly Button Piercing Guide
The belly button piercing is a classic for a reason: it heals into one of the easiest piercings to dress up, with everything from plain steel to dangles and charms. It is also a famously slow healer that rewards patience early on. Here is the full picture.
Will a belly piercing suit me?
A navel piercing does not go “in” the belly button — it passes through the lip of skin on the upper rim. That means anatomy decides more than anything else: there needs to be enough of a defined ridge for the jewellery to sit through without strain. Most people have it; some navels suit a lower-rim or floating placement better; a few are not a good candidate at all. A professional piercer will tell you honestly in about ten seconds of looking — and it is well worth asking before you set your heart on a placement.
What to expect when you get pierced
The studio will use a sterile, single-use needle and fit a 14G curved barbell (a “banana” bar), usually a touch longer than your final fit to leave room for swelling. The piercing is quick; most people rate it easier than they expected. Redness and swelling in the first days is normal.
High-waisted anything is not your friend for a while. Waistbands that press or rub on a fresh navel piercing are the single most common irritation source — plan your wardrobe around lower waists and looser fits for the early weeks.
Healing and care
- Navel piercings heal slowly — often six months or more. Most piercings settle within 1–6 months, and navels regularly need the top of that range. Slow is normal; it is not a sign something is wrong.
- Follow the routine in our Piercing Aftercare Guide: clean in the shower, clean hands only, never rotate the jewellery, no harsh chemicals or antiseptic creams.
- Avoid aggravating the site with clothing — tight pants and firm waistbands over a healing belly piercing are specifically on the aftercare “never” list.
- No chlorine pools before it is fully healed unless the piercing is covered with a fully waterproof, water-tight dressing.
- Keep the starter bar in until your piercer confirms the piercing is ready for a change — then have them do the first swap if you are unsure.
Belly ring sizing
| Measurement | Standard | How to get it right |
|---|---|---|
| Gauge (bar thickness) | 14G (1.6mm) | The navel standard, and the gauge of our whole belly range. |
| Length (along the curve) | ~10mm typical | Measured between the balls, following the bar’s curve. Shallow piercings wear shorter; match a bar that already fits you well. |
| Ball sizes | Small top, larger bottom | The classic banana look; jewelled and dangle designs replace the bottom end. |
The measuring walkthrough is in our Size & Gauge Guide.
Jewellery styles — and when you can wear them
Plain and jewelled bananas in 316L surgical steel are the everyday workhorses, and the right call for sport. Dangle and charm designs hang below the piercing and belong on healed navels — swap back to a plain banana for exercise so nothing swings or snags. Reverse (top-down) designs wear the decorative end above the navel instead. For pregnancy, flexible PTFE and bioflex bananas bend as your shape changes and can be trimmed to length — the standard comfortable choice as a bump grows. Browse the whole range in belly rings, and see the Materials Guide if your skin is metal-sensitive.
Belly button piercing FAQs
Do belly button piercings hurt?
Most people rate them milder than expected — a quick pinch through a fold of skin, then a few days of tenderness. The healing months ask more patience than the piercing asks pain.
How long does a belly piercing take to heal?
Often six months or more — navels sit at the slow end of the usual 1–6 month settling window and frequently need the top of it. Judge by behaviour (calm, dry, comfortable), not by the calendar, and let your piercer confirm before changes.
When can I switch to dangle belly rings?
Once the piercing is genuinely healed and your piercer agrees it is ready — dangles put leverage on the piercing, so they are a healed-navel reward rather than a healing-phase option. Keep a plain banana for sport even afterwards.
Can I swim with a new belly piercing?
Not in chlorinated pools until it has fully healed, unless the piercing is sealed under a fully waterproof, water-tight dressing. Pat the area properly dry afterwards either way.
What happens to my belly ring during pregnancy?
Many people switch to a flexible PTFE or bioflex banana, which bends with a growing bump and can be trimmed to a longer length. If it becomes uncomfortable anyway, talk to your piercer about a retainer or removing the jewellery for the duration — a well-healed piercing often survives a break.
My piercing looks like it is moving — what is that?
Navel piercings sit through surface-adjacent tissue, so constant strain (tight waistbands, oversized jewellery, knocks) can slowly push one toward the surface. Signs worth acting on: the skin over the bar looking thinner or redder, or more of the bar showing than before. If you see them, have your piercer look promptly — early jewellery changes can often save the piercing.
